Dice-game robbers in Royal Oak Township sentenced

ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP – Two township men convicted of robbing a group of men at gunpoint while they were playing a dice game in a residential driveway were sentenced Wednesday to serve up to 40 years in prison.

Donovan M. Martin, 18, and Dwayne C. Major, 21, were each convicted of two counts of armed robbery last month following a week-long trial before Oakland Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren.

Warren on Wednesday sentenced Martin to serve from 11 to 40 years in prison. Major’s sentence is for 7 to 40 years in prison.

Armed robbery is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

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The robbery happened around midnight July 17 in front of a house on Mitchelldale Avenue off of Eight Mile Road several blocks north of Livernois.

Oakland County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Allan led the investigation that led to the arrest of the two convicted armed robbers.

Martin brandished a handgun and Major collected valuables from the men who were shooting dice and gambling with cash, Allan said.

“The suspects were wearing masks and came out from between two houses,” he said. “They robbed about nine men and stole the men’s cell phones and a couple hundred dollars cash.”

Police said Martin wore a bandana-like scarf to cover the lower part of his face while Major had a shirt tied around his face.

The shirt Major was using as a mask fell off at one point during the holdup, Allan said.

“One of the victims recognized Major and another victim recognized Martin’s voice,” he said.

The robbery was reported the next day. Police said both men liked to hang out in public parks in the township.

“We’ve had problems with youths hanging out in the parks and committing minor offenses,” Allan said. “We found both of the suspects by doing routine checks at the parks.”

Martin was arrested at a park the night of Aug. 15. Two nights later, police said they also arrested Major near a park.

Martin is also a suspect in an armed robbery in Detroit and two gun-related violations in the township for carrying a concealed weapon, Allan said.

Allan warned that gambling games, such as shooting craps with cash in public, can lead to trouble.

“When people do this type of stuff out in the open this is the kind of robbery that can happen,” he said.